spot scope for pics or better cam and other stuff

[nontypical176]

Well it continues to happen to me....Perfect picture opportunity and not enough camera.  I was trying to hold my little pocket size cannon cam up to my spotting scope the other day to get a pic of a monster benchleg buck and it didn't work out real well....again.  So I was hoping for some advice on what to do. 

I currently own a good Ziess 15-45x65 spotting scope and I thought about buying a camera adapter for it, found a couple on the market 300-400 or so and then buying a decent camera.  Or should I just by a better camera and forget about the spotting scope.  I know a guy is gonna have to spend a little money for the good stuff, but I'm not planning on being a photographer, just want to take some cool pictures now and then.  As far as cameras are concerned I don't want to be screwing with putting on extra lenses, just point and shoot if I go that route (built in zoom), but I already have a good spotting scope so do you think thats worth using.  I really don't have a clue, but got a little money in the bank due to a refinance and want to take some pictures without having to be petting the dang critter.

What would you do....Any suggestions on a spotting scope adapter that would work on my Ziess or camera with zoom power for a hillbilly. 

[stumprat]

Panasonic FZ35. Check amazon.com
18X zoom

[7mag.]

I got a universal adapter for my spotter at Cabela's for $35.00. I use a decent point and shoot digital. They are not great quality, like some of the guys on here, but it works good. I have a few pics that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to pull off. It works the best with the spotter on the lowest power setting, and the camera on optical zoom, not digital zoom.

[Skyvalhunter]

Is that the scope digitizer?

[Swannytheswan]

what ranges are you talking? your gonna have to spend big bucks to get a camera that is going to reach as far as your spotter and you will have to mess with lenses so get the adapter.

[nontypical176]

As far as range goes...It just depends on what all it takes to get there.  It would be nice to get some pics from my spotter out there 200 yards, but is 100 more reasonable, or is it a lot to mess with to even bother using my spotter?  I just figured since I have the good glass, might as well give it another use, but only if it isn't going to be too much extra b.s. to deal with.

I do see the adapters that just hold a camera in place in front of the spotter and wow do they range in price, from like 35 to 400.  Doesn't seem like that sofisticated a piece of equipment really for the hi priced ones.

I did look at some cameras online and am getting a slight understanding of what I might be buying.  I looked up the Panasonic FZ35 and it reviews real good especially for someone like me, but from what I seen they have dis*censored*inued it though there are some around but now have the FZ40 and it was cheaper than the 35.  Don't understand that, maybe I just need to look a little more.  It was a real pleasure to see the prices of the digital zoom cams, they have come down a long way since the last time I looked years ago.  Maybe thats the way I should go, but it would be nice to hear from someone that is using their spotter hooked up directly to their camera so I can find out if its even worth doing.  Maybe someone with a couple of picture examples taken through a spotting scope would help.

[stumprat]

The FZ35 is the last Panasonic that will use cheaper batteries. FZ40 and newer have to use Panasonic (expensive) batteries.
I got mine on Amazon for $219 about 6 months ago.

[nontypical176]

Just looked, 430 new, 310 used.

[nontypical176]

Well upon furthur research, found out what I'm trying to do is called DIGISCOPING, most of you probably already new that.  Found a cool site/store called Tines Up that sells an adpter for a camera that quickly slides onto a spotting scope and also one connected to a cannon elph100 point and shoot camera.  They are taking the kind of pictures I'm interrested in and sometimes from way out there 1000 yards with video.  Probably gonna bite the bullet and buy a settup from them.

325 for the point and shoot kit, camera included for closer ranges
70 for the camera adapter, no camera, for long range

They have some good videos if you are interested, tinesup.com